Why Trans Students Need Your Help Right Now

Like so many other young transgender people, I have to advocate for myself. I came out at eight years old and experienced years of isolation, harassment, and violence. There weren’t any organizations for me to turn to in my rural California town, so at 16 I founded Trans Student Educational Resources, which is dedicated to transforming the educational environment for trans students across the country. We are still the only national organization led by trans youth—and we’ve helped hundreds of trans students understand their rights and have helped enact policies that address inclusive bathroom guidelines, equal opportunities on sports teams, and preferred gender pronoun usage at dozens of schools across the U.S.

In February President Donald Trump rescinded the Obama Administration’s federal support for transgender students. For some background, last May the Justice and Education departments sent a letter to school districts around the country, informing them that the Obama administration was interpreting Title IX—the law that protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs that receive federal funding—to include transgender students. This was one of the biggest victories for trans youth ever; it required schools to actually respect our identities and allow us access to the programs and facilities we have the right to use. Now Trump's made it possible for states to indulge in discrimination, queerphobia, and misogyny.

While trans people are protected by Title IX for now, there’s still a long battle ahead. With growing fearmongering around the bathroom-predator myth (that sexual abusers will claim to be transgender to use women’s bathrooms), trans youth are at extreme risk of violence in our schools, homes, and everyday lives. Transgender women need to pee like everyone else, yet antitransgender bathroom propaganda continue to pop up around the country and portray us as only seeking access in order to prey on nontrans women and girls. This isn’t just untrue, but it’s also incredibly insulting.

Trump’s decision to reject our basic rights will affect more than just our access to restrooms. Here are other overlooked areas transgender students will be affected by the ruling:

Preferred names and pronouns

Obama’s guidance instructed schools to call transgender students by our chosen names and pronouns. Studies show that referring to transgender students correctly can help our mental health, allowing us to better succeed in education. Learning about pronouns is an important step toward advocating for the transgender community and respecting our identities. In high school, teachers called me by the wrong pronouns, causing me to feel isolated from the other girls in my class. Addressing students by the incorrect pronouns tells others that our identities aren’t valid and can be disrespected. This is particularly frustrating when learning how to address someone is as simple as just asking.

Harassment, violence, and bullying

Trump’s ruling has opened the doors for antitrans harassment, violence, and bullying. According to the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, 54 percent of trans students were verbally harassed for being transgender in school, 36 percent were disciplined for fighting back against bullying, and 24 percent were physically attacked. In elementary school, some of my teachers would openly make fun of me for being gender-nonconforming, which led other students to avoid, tease, and attack me. I know firsthand that the real statistics are likely worse because violence often goes underreported.

Several offices of LGBTQ+ organizations have already been vandalized since the inauguration, with windows smashed and slurs spray-painted across building walls. It’s critical that our adult and nontransgender supporters intervene when they see antitrans violence. As we face escalating violence, it’s important to check in with your trans community members. Ask LGBTQ+ organizations what they need—that’s the best way to listen and get involved.

Clothing censorship

Trans students are often punished or sent home for dressing in appropriate clothes. In high school I was forced to put on an oversize yellow T-shirt for wearing shorts that were deemed “too short.” But whenever nontransgender girls wore shorts of the same length, nothing would happen. I was humiliated and felt I was targeted because I am trans. I want all girls—trans or not—to know that you shouldn’t feel ashamed for wearing what you want. By simply donating clothing or money to national LGBTQ+ centers and organizations, you can help trans people access attire that we may not otherwise be able to purchase—especially youth with unsupportive parents. A small donation can go a long way.

Trans students don’t have much support right now. While we’re a growing community, there is still a long way to go for trans youth to feel equal in school and beyond. But I am hopeful for our future. With more people on our side, I believe we are better equipped than ever to end antitrans violence. Above anything else, more advocates listening to the needs of trans people is key to making change. Through listening and taking action, we can ensure a better future for the next generation of trans people—and I’ll be here to help lead the way.

Erlick studied feminist-, gender-, and sexuality-studies at Pitzer College. She is a national advisory council member for GLSEN, which works to create LGBTQ-inclusive schools. Read more about her here.